This troubleshooting and management guide, built in a user-friendly and intuitive format, contains extensive information and support for pork producers, including more than 1,000 fact sheets and references. The annual license is $75.

Troubleshooting

“This guide is designed to help producers identify the source of the reproductive problem they are experiencing and, through research-based fields, provide information directly related to that problem,” said Chris Hostetler, animal science director at the National Pork Board.

The National Swine Reproduction Guide is available only as a web application and can be accessed through personal computers, smartphones and tablets.

Decision tree

The guide uses a reproductive decision tree specifically designed in an easy-to-use format and simple navigation.

The decision tree begins with three categories: gilts, sows and boars (semen). After selecting a category, a list of potential issues are available from which to choose, such as “low farrowing rate” or “too small of a gilt pool.”

Once the topic is selected, the decision tree will help narrow the search on the issue through a series of available questions.

After choosing the question that best fits the original problem, an answer is provided in the form of a fact sheet with viewable references.